Directed by Peter Barbieri Jr., of Norwalk, the show is set in a western Indian territory just after the turn of the century, and the high-spirited rivalry between farmers and cowboys provides the backdrop for the "Romeo and Juliet"-esque romance of Curly (Jeffrey Wright III, of Trumbull), a handsome cowboy, and Laurey (Rebecca Stempel, of Mount Vernon, N.Y.) a winsome farm girl.

"I first performed in `Oklahoma!' in high school and have loved the show ever since," Ursone said. "It has everything a perfect musical should -- great songs, great characters, comedy, suspense, fabulous dance numbers and, yes, a happy ending."

The musical -- one of the first to use songs and dances to propel the plot -- boasts a bevy of American standards, including "People Will Say We're in Love," "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" and the title song.

The original Broadway production of "Oklahoma!" opened on March 31, 1943. It was a box-office smash and ran for an unprecedented 2,243 performances, later enjoying award-winning revivals, national tours, foreign productions and an Academy Award-winning 1955 film adaptation.

Stempel, 22, who played Laurey in her high school's production of "Oklahoma!," is excited to reprise the role.

"It's definitely a ground-breaking musical," she said. "The music is some of the most gorgeous you'll find in the theater repertoire. A lot of people say it's outdated, older, but there's a lot in it that's really funny."

Kevin Sell, who plays Curly's sidekick, Will Parker, had never seen "Oklahoma!" -- either on screen or on stage -- prior to auditioning for the show. However, he fell in love with it soon after rehearsals began.

"The show is a lot of fun," said Sell, 24, of Wilton. "There are dance numbers, catchy music and a lot of iconic stuff. It's a really good time."

Barbieri is also is designing the early-20th century, Western-style set.

Ursone said that while "Oklahoma!" is set out West, the seeds of the show were planted in the Connecticut.

"Our first meeting on the project that eventually became known as 'Oklahoma!' took place at my home in Connecticut," Richard Rodgers wrote in his autobiography, "Musical Stages." "We sat under a huge oak tree and tossed ideas around."

Now, a group of local actors are looking forward to bringing "Oklahoma!" to life on a Connecticut stage.